Move Development

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Move Development Scheme

This scheme is a motivational system whereby handlers and dogs gradually accumulate points for an increasingly wider range of moves. Initially dogs may be performing the moves with the help of very obvious cues but extra points are then awarded as the cues become more subtle. Handlers select for themselves what they want to be assessed on from a list of potential moves. The scheme can be implemented locally in a variety of ways and groups/clubs can decide for themselves how they want to carry out the assessments.

1. It can be used:

as a stand alone scheme

alongside other schemes such as the PnM Progress Awards

to help prepare for other schemes and / or competition

2. It can be used by e.g.

individuals – to provide ideas for their own training and for self scoring

small groups of friends who would like a system to help them extend their range of moves

HTM clubs / training groups as an internal club certificate scheme

3. Assessment can be done e.g.

on a continuous / regular / irregular basis over any number of weeks / months / years.

by the handler deciding on a regular basis which moves he / she wants to be assessed for

by a specific assessor or by group consensus about how well an individual performs

4. The list of moves is a starting point only. It is not intended ever to be an exact list of all possible moves but new moves may be added whenever the scheme is reviewed. Space is left on the sheet for handlers to put in their own extra moves.

5. Some of the moves are open to interpretation and it is up to both handlers and assessors to ensure that they both have the same interpretation before the move is assessed. Some moves could be performed in a variety of ways. For example - jump over a prop, if the dog has, say, jumped over a pole held by the handler on first assessment then as long as a totally different object is used, such as a chair, there is no reason why a second 3 points could not be claimed. But groups must make their own decisions about the extent to which such moves are deemed to be different or too similar.

6. Any awards given will be purely for self development / internal club purposes. If individuals, who don’t attend a group, want to be assessed then it is up to them to negotiate being assessed within a group using the scheme.

7. The scheme is intended to be as flexible as possible and it can be used both by PnM members and also non-members. In fact the Association would welcome its adoption by clubs wishing to encourage their handlers to develop HTM type skills. Therefore the assessment form may be photocopied however groups doing this must acknowledge its source. PnM members will automatically be informed of amendments / updates via the PnM quarterly newsletter.

8. Groups/individuals can design and provide their own certificates or alternatively use the PnM ones.